Comments on: the kids are the pros http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/ The personal website of NYC-based percussionist Chris Thompson Sun, 02 May 2010 04:32:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Joe Allison http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4974 Joe Allison Sun, 02 May 2010 04:32:08 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4974 Chris: It's great to see you "mainstreaming" information to the music community about drum corps and marching bands! As more and more professional performers, educators, composers and designers populate this activity, I've recently begun a "legacy project." My quest is to mainstream the industry within the academic community. Once dismissed as illegitimate or of little substance, the levels of instruction, creativity, and performance (in both drum corps and band) skills now rival the professional industry. Toward this end, we have established a Research Team at EKU which is involved in various projects intended to improve design/composition, performance, and assessment in this highly-competitive activity. I/we certainly welcome any thoughts you might have in this area - it was the marching vehicle that propelled so many of us (including myself) to a career in music-making! Fire away! Joe Allison, DMA Professor of Conducting/Director of Bands Eastern Kentucky University Adjudicator: DCI, BOA, WGI, etc. Chris:

It’s great to see you “mainstreaming” information to the music community about drum corps and marching bands! As more and more professional performers, educators, composers and designers populate this activity, I’ve recently begun a “legacy project.” My quest is to mainstream the industry within the academic community. Once dismissed as illegitimate or of little substance, the levels of instruction, creativity, and performance (in both drum corps and band) skills now rival the professional industry.

Toward this end, we have established a Research Team at EKU which is involved in various projects intended to improve design/composition, performance, and assessment in this highly-competitive activity.

I/we certainly welcome any thoughts you might have in this area – it was the marching vehicle that propelled so many of us (including myself) to a career in music-making!

Fire away!

Joe Allison, DMA
Professor of Conducting/Director of Bands
Eastern Kentucky University
Adjudicator: DCI, BOA, WGI, etc.

]]> By: Dave http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4909 Dave Thu, 25 Mar 2010 00:36:54 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4909 Firebird Suite in 4/4 for me too. This post brought me back to my marching days. Thanks! Firebird Suite in 4/4 for me too. This post brought me back to my marching days. Thanks!

]]> By: Mafoo http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4908 Mafoo Tue, 23 Mar 2010 14:13:24 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4908 My HS marching band did the Firebird in 4/4. Just wanted to put that out there.. My HS marching band did the Firebird in 4/4. Just wanted to put that out there..

]]> By: Alex http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4907 Alex Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:50:25 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4907 Great post, Chris! I WAS TOTALLY AT THE 1996 SHOW! Great post, Chris!

I WAS TOTALLY AT THE 1996 SHOW!

]]> By: DTL http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4905 DTL Sat, 20 Mar 2010 20:46:24 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4905 Hey Chris, Great post. (And wow: I love that Star 93 show! ) Hey Chris, Great post. (And wow: I love that Star 93 show! )

]]> By: Chi http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4904 Chi Sat, 20 Mar 2010 18:10:56 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4904 Chris, You are my hero!! Thank you for writing this. It made me remember the joy of playing in DCI and my summer spent with sweat, dirt and gym floor...lol I really do hope people in the classic world give more respect to the world of marching band. I want more! :) Chris,

You are my hero!!

Thank you for writing this. It made me remember the joy of playing in DCI and my summer spent with sweat, dirt and gym floor…lol

I really do hope people in the classic world give more respect to the world of marching band.

I want more! :)

]]> By: Luke http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4903 Luke Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:24:20 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4903 Thank you, thank you, thank you. Since you are apparently NY's reigning professor of DCI, I hope you will write more on this over the course of the summer. We could all use the information. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Since you are apparently NY’s reigning professor of DCI, I hope you will write more on this over the course of the summer. We could all use the information.

]]> By: Chris http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4902 Chris Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:17:12 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4902 My first summer I lost like 15% of my body weight and literally looked like a skeleton. They used to call me the 80 year old 15 year old as I hobbled to the food truck... My first summer I lost like 15% of my body weight and literally looked like a skeleton. They used to call me the 80 year old 15 year old as I hobbled to the food truck…

]]> By: James http://www.chrispthompson.com/2010/03/19/the-kids-are-the-pros/comment-page-1/#comment-4901 James Fri, 19 Mar 2010 19:05:40 +0000 http://www.chrispthompson.com/?p=874#comment-4901 As a runner and someone who exercises with a heart rate monitor, I can tell you that a heart rate over 200 is absolutely bonkers. Truth is, as you get older, your max heart rate gets lower (generally your max is 220 minus your age), which is not to say that an athletic 30-year-old couldn't do it with a heart rate at say 190, but it'd be more difficult. I have to say, I think there is a lack of athleticism in music (whatever that means...) I think being in top physical shape is pretty dang important to performing at a high level, but I guess there are plenty of bad ass musicians that negate that argument. As a runner and someone who exercises with a heart rate monitor, I can tell you that a heart rate over 200 is absolutely bonkers. Truth is, as you get older, your max heart rate gets lower (generally your max is 220 minus your age), which is not to say that an athletic 30-year-old couldn’t do it with a heart rate at say 190, but it’d be more difficult.

I have to say, I think there is a lack of athleticism in music (whatever that means…) I think being in top physical shape is pretty dang important to performing at a high level, but I guess there are plenty of bad ass musicians that negate that argument.

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